USAction Affiliates, Members Mobilize in House Districts Nationwide Demanding GOP Members “Cease and Desist” with Extreme Politics

USAction Members Mobilize in House Districts Nationwide Demanding GOP Members “Cease and Desist” with Extreme Politics

Urge Immediate Vote to Reopen Govt and Increase the Debt Limit

WASHINGTON, DC — On Tuesday, October 15th, USAction members will protest outside dozens of House Republican district offices–demanding that they “cease and desist” with extreme politics, and urging an immediate vote to reopen the government and increase the debt limit.

The cease and desist orders will be delivered to congressional offices by constituents who will describe the harm to their families from the government shutdown, proposed GOP cuts in Social Security and Medicare and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Republican House Speaker Boehner has linked ending the government shutdown to defunding the Affordable Care Act and preventing the United States from defaulting to cuts in Social Security and Medicare.

The Cease and Desist Day of Action is organized by USAction and its allies, including MoveOn.org, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, Campaign for Community Change, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Alliance for Retired Americans, Democracy for America, Health Care for American Now.

“Enough is enough. Today we are issuing orders to Republicans in Congress to cease and desist their game of political gridlock and do their jobs – reopen Government and increase the debt limit so America can continue to pay our bills,” said Fred Azcarate, Executive Director of USAction. “Do Republicans really want to go down as the party that caused the first default in our nation’s history in order to deny health care and slash Social Security and Medicare benefits for millions? Instead of protecting our families and our communities by building prosperity for all, they are pulling the rug out from under the American Dream.”

“Today, MoveOn members are taking to the streets to express their frustration over the GOP’s reckless government shutdown and their outrage over the fact that members of Congress who support the shutdown are still being paid and receiving perks, such as gym access, while 800,000 workers have been furloughed without pay,” said Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org, who cosponsored the events. “MoveOn members are committed to making sure Republicans in Congress pay a political price for their hypocritical and destructive behavior.”